In 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continue to lead the charge in safeguarding UK workplaces. Here’s what business leaders and safety professionals need to know about the newest guidance, emerging trends, and pragmatic steps to keep workplaces safe and compliant.
1. Heat Stress: A Growing Focus
While there’s currently no legal maximum temperature for workplaces, the HSE is actively consulting on new proposals to tackle heat-related risk. Employers may soon be required to perform heat stress risk assessments, and provide additional protections such as shade, water, and rest breaks for manual workers in extreme conditions The Scottish Sun.
Action Step: Start preparing now—monitor temperature spikes, document assessments, and build simple protocols for hydration, shaded rest areas, and work pace adjustments.
2. First Aid Embraces Mental Health
The HSE has refreshed its L74 First Aid at Work guidance to reflect a broader definition of wellbeing. It now emphasizes that risk assessments should factor in mental health, not just physical injuries. Employers are expected to consider mental health support—especially for lone or at-risk workers—in addition to conventional first-aid requirements HR News - The #1 place for HR News.
Action Step: Review your first aid provisions: ensure mental health first-aid support where needed, and update risk assessments to include psychological safety.
3. Strategic Enforcement: HSE’s 2025/26 Priorities
Looking ahead, the HSE’s priorities include gas safety, work at height, silica dust, workplace violence, and stress worknest.com. This signals increased scrutiny in traditionally high-risk sectors—and highlights that compliance now extends into mental wellbeing and violence prevention.
Action Step: Audit your high-risk processes and refresh training where necessary. Don’t overlook less tangible risks like stress or workplace violence during reviews.
4. Motorised DSE Stands Safety Alert
A recent HSE Safety Notice warns about the dangers posed by motorised, height-adjustable display screen (DSE) stands, particularly where children or vulnerable individuals may misuse them. The stands can become unstable or cause injuries if operated improperly clearinsurancemanagement.com.
Action Step: If your workspace uses motorised DSE stands, ensure they are secured, appropriately used, and supervised, especially in educational or multi-user environments.
5. Building Safety and Regulatory Reform
Under the Building Safety Act, the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has been separated from the HSE and placed within the Ministry of Housing to streamline oversight of high-rise, high-risk buildings HR News - The #1 place for HR NewsGOV.UK.
Action Step: For those managing or designing higher-risk residential buildings, monitor how the changes to the BSR may affect reporting requirements and building compliance procedures.
6. Still Foundation: Risk Assessment and Management
The cornerstone of HSE guidance remains a robust approach to risk:
- Undertake “suitable and sufficient” risk assessments across all workplace hazards (e.g. work equipment, DSE, stress, COSHH, work at height, etc.) HSE+1.
- Use hierarchies of control to eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, and then resort to PPE.
- Record findings if you have five or more employees, and review assessments regularly—especially after changes or incidents.
Action Step: Audit your risk register today: confirm controls align with hierarchy, ensure records are up to date, and schedule a regular (e.g. annual) review process.
What Should Employers Do Today?
Area | Immediate Action |
|---|---|
Heat Stress | Create detection and response procedures; consider breaks, hydration, shade. |
First Aid | Include mental health; ensure trained mental health first-aiders. |
High-Risk Hazards | Audit manual handling, silica, work at height—boost training and documentation. |
Motorised DSE | Secure or control access; educate users. |
Building Management | Track BSR reforms impacting high-rise safety governance. |
Risk Assessment | Update, record, and review—ensure alignment with HSE expectations. |
Conclusion
In 2025, the HSE’s approach to workplace safety is evolving—beyond slips, trips, and first aid. Employers must now consider heat stress, mental wellbeing, modern equipment risks, and regulatory shifts in building safety. By proactively updating assessments, controls, and training, UK workplaces will not only stay compliant but genuinely safer.